FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[deMuRe]

Oh im sure he just loves being down the s*** end of the pit lane fined loads of money(Forgotten the ridiculously high figure)having his integrirty questioned, been accused of cheating by the masters of the craft, had the constructors championship taken from his team, had 'special observers' making sure he treats his drivers fairly(What a joke that is after what ferrari have done in the past! Oh and actually also in the last race)And no fair recourse to justice. Yes im sure Ron is one happy chappy with this years championship!

Any publicity is good publicity. McLaren's name has been plasted into the newspapers of the world for about a month, in 18 months time people will forget why McLaren were in the headlines, but there will be recognition of the McLaren brand.

[bud]

The sport has been tainted by McLaren being in possession of a confidential document from a rival team.

Sing a new song, do you honestly think this is the first of a kind in F1? youre kidding yourself!

the sport was tainted by the way the FIA and Ferrari handled this! Ferrari didnt go to the FIA when a similar case occured with Toyota did they! they didnt go and start a media based war of words in the name of smearing McLarens reputation!

Ferrari has as much to blame if not more to blame for any tainting going on here!

[Mikep99]

The sport has been tainted by McLaren being in possession of a confidential document from a rival team.

deMeRe, I hear your song loud and clear. It’s an oldie but a goody

[nikon133]

You are missing the points:
#1 not illegal at the time.
#2 too lenient - the drivers were allowed to finish the season in a car that benefited from industrial espionage for which the team was penalized.
#3 sore losers are rapidly losing the rest of respect they might still have had and are becoming the laughing stock.

Fact is that McLaren/RD screwed up royally this past season: annoying incompetence in managing their drivers, disingenuous handling of the spysaga, ridiculously amateurish mistakes and embarrassingly incompetent coaching of their rookie driver which resulted in them losing the title during the last two races.
Any CEO in the corporate world who is responsible for this many serious f.uck ups would be given a golden parachute and kicked out!

I get his points, if not best expianed.

1. Not illegal at the time? Says the FIA, huh? If it wasn't illegal then why weren't they allowed to keep running it?

2. Industrial espionage is the biggest joke of the season. Did Red-Bull get repremanded for having McLaren technology on their cars after signing Adrian Newey? Was it Renault technology that gave McLaren their 6/10 that Alfonso was twittering on about? And how much insider info did Kimi take to Ferrari? Point is, this happens all across F1 and yet its mostly accepted. Personally I don't think any 'Ferrari technology' was used on the MM cars, other than trying out some set-up info. That's why they can easily state that they have nothing to hide.

3. Sore losers?? I wonder what Ferrari would have done in that situation...

To be honest, I think its the whole pettiness that has spoilt the F1 season. Things that would have just been accepted in the past have been blown out of proportions this year and its distracted from an otherwise great season.

I'm a big Kimi fan and I'm glad he won. I have big respect for Lewis achieving what he has as a rookie. Its just a shame that most of the things I have read about F1 this year have nothing to do with racing.

Good one. It is oh-so-obvious McLaren was punished because their employee was found with Ferrari's property in his pocket, not because they were using any of that property. Hasn't MM said that, if they have actually found any proof about Ferrari's technology in McLaren's car, McLaren would be all but castrated and pretty much destroyed for good..?

I still believe whole affair was conducted with Ferrari's lobby in FIA - MM on top of the bunch - as at that point they haven't believed they could actually win anything fair and square, and they needed to prove they can be best after MS and RB. Funny thing is that Kimi actually managed to win fair - well, with a bit of support from RD's mistakes, but at least without any crooked politicians from FIA's underworld.

[737flier]

Nobody can deny that with the benefit of hindsight McLaren would have done some things differently, however, that's not the crux of the matter. Regardless of whether McLaren made mistakes and were or were not guilty in the spy scandal, Formula One has been tainted, with people around the globe not necessarily interested in the sport seeing just how influential politics and personal vendettas, if they weren't well aware of it before. This is something that has got to be changed for the benefit of ten other teams in Formula One.

I think it's very sad that DD seems to fail to see that.

The sport has been tainted by McLaren being in possession of a confidential document from a rival team.

and who gave it to them.....?

[737flier]

Funny thing is that Kimi actually managed to win fair - well, with a bit of support from RD's mistakes, but at least without any crooked politicians from FIA's underworld.

Unfortunately not Nikon133, remember he won the first race with an illegal car, flexible floor......

[McLaren Fan]

Nobody can deny that with the benefit of hindsight McLaren would have done some things differently, however, that's not the crux of the matter. Regardless of whether McLaren made mistakes and were or were not guilty in the spy scandal, Formula One has been tainted, with people around the globe not necessarily interested in the sport seeing just how influential politics and personal vendettas, if they weren't well aware of it before. This is something that has got to be changed for the benefit of ten other teams in Formula One.

I think it's very sad that DD seems to fail to see that.

The sport has been tainted by McLaren being in possession of a confidential document from a rival team.

As I said, whether McLaren are guity not is unimportant. The way in which the investigation was conducted was a scandal. And, as Bud said, how do you explain at the past incidents of biased and political decisions? Whether the spy scandal happened or not, changes were needed.

[Martin]

#1 Movable floor pan in Australia, #2 100M fine in spygate saga, #3 Brazil appeal for cold fuel. Ron Dennis does not want Kimi's WDC title. RD and all of us know Max and the FIA will not let that happen. The point is, this will be three times the the FIA and stewards have made arbitrary and biased rulings that have affected McLaren. The more examples of controversial and biased decisions by FIA, the better. McLaren and Mercedes will seek a legal solution to some of the FIA rulings of 2007 season. This will open the door for more thorough investigations of FIA, Max and Bernie.

I agree F1usa, there is something very smelly about the way the FIA, MM & Bernie seem to operate. A thorough investigation, and maybe a good 'clear out', would restore some faith in the sport. However, I cant see Bernie or MM allwing that, and they are strong enough to resist, so maybe we will never know until someone writes their memoirs.

[bud]

i would like to see an American as head of the FIA atleast he would and should be able to distance himself from the euro squabbles that set back the sports the FIA has control of!

[Woodchip]

i would like to see an American as head of the FIA atleast he would and should be able to distance himself from the euro squabbles that set back the sports the FIA has control of!

That's why I'd love to see Paul Stoddart in that position (I know he's not American). He is the other side of the world, and doesn't mind jumping on a few toes when things need doing.

Either him or Tom Walkinshaw, as he has experience of so many different forms of motorsport he should be able to govern them.

[Ron Dennis]

Nobody can deny that with the benefit of hindsight McLaren would have done some things differently, however, that's not the crux of the matter. Regardless of whether McLaren made mistakes and were or were not guilty in the spy scandal, Formula One has been tainted, with people around the globe not necessarily interested in the sport seeing just how influential politics and personal vendettas, if they weren't well aware of it before. This is something that has got to be changed for the benefit of ten other teams in Formula One.

I think it's very sad that DD seems to fail to see that.

The sport has been tainted by McLaren being in possession of a confidential document from a rival team.

Ferrari tainted it long before that.

[darwin dali]

i would like to see an American as head of the FIA atleast he would and should be able to distance himself from the euro squabbles that set back the sports the FIA has control of!

Or a she...

[McLaren Fan]

i would like to see an American as head of the FIA atleast he would and should be able to distance himself from the euro squabbles that set back the sports the FIA has control of!

Or a she...

I wonder how she would measure up.

Anyway DD, what are your views exactly on the corruption of the FIA which has been going on for years. Leaving the spy scandal out of the question, are you happy with the way in which it is run?

[Woodchip]

It's run about as well as Enron.

[darwin dali]

There will be a biological solution, so why don't you guys just chill? Do you really want FB in the driver's seat? That's how it looks to me - he's being groomed for Bernie's job and would take over if the change happened now/very soon. So, maybe give them enough time to find somebody good for the post(s) or let them anger the team bosses even more so that they take matters in their own hands and decide what's gonna happen and who's gonna be the big kahuna.